Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event Presented by Land Rover 2016 Fast Facts Presented By: WHAT: Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI4* (Concours Complet Internationale) The highest level of an Advanced Three-Day Event. WHERE: Kentucky Horse Park – Lexington, KY WHEN: April 28 – May 1, 2016 GENERAL PURPOSE: To provide a competition annually that by its scope and demand affords the U. S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) the opportunity to evaluate candidates seeking competition or development grants or to be named to a U.S. team representing this country in international championships. WHAT: The 2016 Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is an official trial for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Eventing team and features the 19th Rolex USEF Four Star Championship for the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation Pinnacle Cup. The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event attracts the world’s best horses and riders to compete for their share of $350,000 in prize money as well as a shot at the $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing, which is awarded to any rider who wins the Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Four Star Events in succession. The Fédération Equestre Internationale (International Equestrian Federation – FEI), the world's Governing body of equestrian sports, has designated the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, Presented by Land Rover, part of the FEI Classics™, as a Four Star Eventing competition. Stars are used by the FEI to denote the level of Eventing competitions. Four stars is the highest designation and this designation is given only to the Olympic Games, World Championships, and six annual events around the world. The only Four Star Event in the Western Hemisphere, the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event is the premier competition for the top horses and riders in the Olympic sport of Eventing. The Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge will be featured again this year, awarding $20,000 in prize money. This is a friendly team competition to help foster team spirit and camaraderie and this year the nations teams will be selected based on FEI World Ranks. The winning nation will be the nation with the fewest penalties after adding together the final scores of the three highest-placed individuals from that nation. The prize money will be split among the top four teams. EVENTING: With horse-and-rider pairs competing across gender and age boundaries, Eventing is the triathlon of equine sports. Eventing requires each horse-and-rider combination to compete and excel in three very different phases of competition – Dressage, Cross-Country, and Show Jumping. The first phase of the competition is Dressage, which tests the gaits, suppleness and obedience of the horse through a series of prescribed movements. The second phase is Cross-Country, where horses and riders gallop over miles of challenging terrain, at speeds up to 25 mph, while negotiating remarkable obstacles, water hazards, banks and ditches. The final phase, the Show Jumping test, tests the horses’ and riders’ athletic ability, conditioning and training as they soar over obstacles. Originally, Eventing competitions were held around the world to test the fitness and training level of cavalry mounts. The winner is determined by the horse-and-rider combination with the fewest combined penalties from the three phases. The horses have run the gamut from thoroughbreds to mustangs. FOUR STAR STATUS: The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event hosts the Western Hemisphere’s only annual Four Star Three-Day Event. In 1998, Rolex Kentucky became only the third annual Four Star event in the world, joining the venerable English events of Badminton (1949) and Burghley (1961). After Rolex became a Four-Star Event, three more Four Star events were added – in Adelaide, Australia; Luhmühlen, Germany; and Pau, France. Olympic Games and World Championships, held every four years, are the only other Four Star competitions. ROLEX GRAND SLAM OF EVENTING: The $350,000 Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing is awarded to any rider who wins the Rolex Kentucky, Mitsubishi Motors Badminton and Land Rover Burghley Four Star Events in succession. Pippa Funnell of Great Britain, who won all three in 2003, is the only rider to win the Rolex Grand Slam. AWARDS: • Dubarry of Ireland Nations Team Challenge - $20,000 • FEI Classics Series – $90,000 (split among three athletes at the end of the series) • Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing - $350,000 • Rolex Three Day Perpetual Trophy • William C. Coman Perpetual Trophy • Carimati Cup • The Bank One Perpetual Trophy • Pinnacle Trophy • Zeppa Trophy • Best Conditioned • SSG “Go Low For the Dough” Program • Flair Protect and Perform Award • Shapley’s Groom Award • The Kentucky Cup: 5 Year Completions POTENTIAL COMPETITORS: • Phillip Dutton – Two-time Olympic U.S. team member, winning team gold for Australia in 1996 & 2000 • Michael Jung – Gold Medal Olympic Rider • Karen O’Connor – Five-time Olympic Rider winning team silver in 1988 & bronze in 2000 • William Fox-Pitt – Three time Rolex winner • Zara Phillips – Olympic Rider and granddaughter of the Queen EXPECTED ATTENDANCE: Spectators: 60-100,000; Volunteers: 2,000; Media: 200 GROUNDS: The Kentucky Horse Park, a 1,212-acre park opened in 1978 by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It was officially opened the weekend following the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships, which were held at the Park, September 14-17. The Kentucky Horse Park was also the site for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. ORGANIZER: Equestrian Events, Inc., (EEI) a non-profit charitable Kentucky corporation established initially to produce the 1978 World Three-Day Event Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park. The Event is currently run by the 24 person volunteer Board of Directors. STAFF and OFFICIALS: Stewart Perry, President, Equestrian Events, Inc.; Lee Carter, Executive Director, Equestrian Events, Inc.; Vanessa Coleman, Director of Competition; Derek DiGrazia (USA), Course Designer; Mick Costello, Course Builder; Richard Jeffery (GBR), Stadium Designer; Tom Ryckewaert (BEL),Technical Delegate; Wayne Quarles (USA), Andrew Temkin (USA), Assistant Technical Delegates; Dr. Ernst Topp (GER), President of the Ground Jury; Sandy Phillips (GBR), Andrew Bennie (NZL) Ground Jury Members; Dr. Catherine W. Kohn (USA) Veterinary Delegate; Dr. Lisa M. Crump (USA), Associate Veterinarian; Karen Winn (USA), Chief Steward; Marty Bauman (USA), Chief Press Officer; Charlotte Skinner (3*) (USA), Jumping Test Judge. TITLE SPONSOR: Rolex Watch U.S.A., is the official timepiece of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), is Title Sponsor of the Kentucky Three-Day Event. This association with EEI began in 1981. PRESENTING SPONSOR: Land Rover, the British maker of Land Rover and Range Rover sport utility vehicles. OTHER SPONSORSHIP: FEI Classics Series; United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) OFFICIAL CHARITY: Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA), Based in Lexington, Kentucky, the non-profit Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance accredits, inspects and awards grants to approved aftercare organizations to retire, retrain and rehome Thoroughbreds using industry-wide funding. Funded initially by seed money from Breeders’ Cup Ltd., The Jockey Club, and Keeneland Association, Inc., the TAA is supported by owners, trainers, breeders, racetracks, aftercare professionals and other industry groups. To date, 56 aftercare organizations supporting more than 180 facilities across the U.S. and Canada have been granted accreditation and received funding from the TAA. To learn more about the TAA, visit thoroughbredaftercare.org. TRADE FAIR: Part of Rolex Kentucky since 1976. Merchandise includes designer clothing, artwork, gifts, sport clothing, horse-related items, Event souvenir items and many more. Horse enthusiasts can make major purchases (saddles, boots, etc.) at the Trade Fair because the large number of tack shops affords a volume of offerings in one location. FAMILY FUN: The Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event features exquisite shopping and browsing in the Sponsor Village and International Trade Fair with about 170 of booths and tents. At 6:30 P.M. on Friday night, April 29, the 2nd Annual RK-5K, The Twilight Run at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event, will be held with a portion of the proceeds to be donated to the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Runners/walkers with strollers and dogs on a leash are welcome to join in the fun. 5 Time Grammy Nominee Hunter Hayes will be performing at 6:00 P.M. in the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park on Saturday evening, April 30, following the Cross-Country phase of the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event! Doors open at 4:30 P.M. and a portion of the proceeds from the concert will benefit the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation, Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and the USO. Rolex Kentucky also features a variety of other entertaining attractions daily and ticket buyers receive general admission to the Kentucky Horse Park, America's only theme park dedicated to horses. TICKET OPPORTUNITIES: Several options for attending the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event are available. For complete information, please visit www.RK3DE.org. MORE INFORMATION: Equestrian Events, Inc. - (859) 233-2362, (859) 254-5116 fax Ticket Information - (859) 254-8123, [email protected], www.RK3DE.org/tickets Website - www.RK3DE.org Hunter Hayes Concert – www.hunterhayes.com MEDIA CONTACT: (508) 698-6810 x 10, [email protected] .